Sources: Charles Kelly returning to Jacksonville St. as coach

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Jacksonville State is hiring Auburn co-defensive coordinator Charles Kelly, a former Gamecocks assistant, as its new head football coach, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel on Friday.

Kelly informed Tigers coach Hugh Freeze that he was offered the Jacksonville State job and is accepting it, sources confirmed to ESPN's Chris Low.

Kelly, 57, replaces Rich Rodriguez, who left Dec. 12 to return to West Virginia for a second stint as its head coach, previously leading the Mountaineers from 2001 to '07.

Rodriguez led the Gamecocks to an 18-8 record in their first two seasons as an FBS team. They lost to Ohio 30-27 in Friday's Staff DNA Cure Bowl in Orlando, Florida. Offensive…